This week, your state lawmakers will consider enacting energy legislation that benefits ComEd, Exelon, and anti-coal interest groups, but neglects downstate Illinois residents. The good news is you can help make a difference!

On Monday, October 17th, in advance of the 60-day contractual requirement, the Union and Company agreed to exchange opening letters. Dates are being scheduled and it is encouraging to see both sides are interested in achieving a new contract before the expiration date.

In an effort to provide our membership as much information as possible, we have updated all of the negotiated benefit plans between the Union and the Cooperative on our webpage for all three (3) groups represented by IBEW Local Union No. 702.

On Friday, June 10th, 2016, with the support of the membership in the department, IBEW Local 702 appointed Mr. Mark Williams to take the place of Bobby Stinnett as Steward of the Electrical Department at the Retail Operations (downtown warehouse) location. Bobby accepted a management position, effective June 1st, leaving a vacancy in the Steward’s position.

On Thursday, June 2nd, 2016, at the request of Craig Shemwell to be releived of his Steward duties, the Local Union notified Cairo Public Utility Manager Larry Klein that Richie Pitcher had been appointed the Steward for the Gas Department.

The Union met with the membership of the SEMO Electric Cooperative Clerical Group on Tuesday, May 31st after work to discuss the naming of a new Steward. The current Steward, Martin Ward, had been out on an extended illness and his return to work is undetermined.

Earlier in the year, IBEW Local 702 filed a grievance on SEMO Cooperative management personnel for performing bargaining unit work ~ check reads on meters. The Union and Cooperative met on July 29th to discuss the issue at length, during which the Manager requested additional time to investigate the matter on his side, to which the Union agreed.

On March 22nd, 2011, IBEW Local 702 prepared a grievance which it eventually filed with the Cooperative on the assignment of meter change outs to the Engineering Technician classification, and not to the Serviceman classification. The Parties met on July 29th to fully explore and explain the matter. Cooperative General Manager Reuben Jeane asserted to the Union during that meeting that he believed he could straighten the matter out with some increased attention on the assignment of such tickets.

On October 27th the Company issued a letter to all of you discussing many issues at the plant. Among these issues were Employee Benefits, Protocol Teams, Union Activity, and Safety. There are several statements in the letter that should trouble you as employees at PSGC.

PSGC, had billions of dollars worth of contracts signed before they ever broke ground on the plant that you work in today.Â They protected their future before they ever hired the first employee.Â Now they ask you to trust that they will protect your future, the only way to truly protect your future is through a union contract.

Thank you for taking the time to stop in and check out the IBEW. As many of you are already aware, the IBEW is actively helping the employees of Prairie State Energy Campus form a union. Union membership has many advantages, these advantages are as follows.